The Spectrum

Issue date: 4/6/06 Section: Features

Media Credit: AP Photo/David J. Phillip Springtime for some means more time spent outdoors.

Spring fever might be the only cure for your winter blues. Defined as a feeling of restlessness and excitement at the onset of the spring season, this figurative fever represents more than just the body's adaptation to longer days.

Michelle McGowan, sophomore Pleasantville, N.Y. said, "I love the springtime because it carries positive energy with it, even when you just talking about being able to get outdoors and be active people seem to become more cheerful."

"Spring is just as good as any other season, but I think it gets a little too much credit just because it follows winter. If everyone didn't run inside and shut themselves in between November and February, spring probably would not come as such a 'relief," said Ryan McGovern, senior, Belmar, N.J.

Despite varying opinions, Spring has long since been the literal and literary season of rebirth. Undoubtedly more reproduction takes place during this time than any other time in the year. Why is that?

According to Angela Smyth in her book, "SAD: Seasonal Affective Disorder," the anticipation that comes with approaching seasonal and temperature changes is both a mental and physical interaction, originating in the pineal gland, the metaphoric third eye.

"The pineal gland is located in the center of the brain and has nerve connections to the retina and other parts of the brain. The secretion of the hormone melatonin assists in regulating daily and seasonal breeding cycles in animals," said Smyth.

Melatonin is released into the brain in darkness, and light acts as a signal to stop it. Longer days bring more light, which means that melatonin levels become reduced. An increase in vitality and eagerness to be active elevates as well. The resulting contrast in moods has led millions of people worldwide to believe they suffer from winter depression, one form of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).

According to familydoctor.org some common symptoms SAD sufferers relate to are, a change in appetite (especially the craving of sweet or starchy foods), fatigue, tendency to oversleep, drop in energy level, irritability, increased sensitivity to social rejection, and avoidance of social situations.

SAD is a controversial topic in the mental health field and is handled with much delicacy, especially when dealing with people and education.

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